Spider bite often requires a doctor

Dr. Paul DonohueSyndicated Columnist

Published Monday, May 26, 2008

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I live in a place where warm weather always brings newspaper stories of brown recluse spider bites. How are they best treated? Is there some way to avoid being bitten? I have an unnatural fear of spiders. -- L.M.

ANSWER: Spiders are our friends. Of the more than 20,000 spider species in the Americas, only 60 bite humans, and of those 60, only four pose any danger. The brown recluse spider is one of those four. It lives mostly in the Southeastern and Central United States, with pockets in the Southwest. Because of interstate and intercountry transportation, it can be seen in other places.

This spider measures about an inch in length, and its legs spread to a distance of 2 inches. It has a tan color, and on its back is a distinctive mark that looks like a small violin.

As its name implies, the brown recluse spider is reclusive. It doesn't seek out people. It likes to live alone and undisturbed, often in woodpiles, among rocks, in closets and attics, and under furniture. Your major defensive prevention is to be careful when you are in such places, if your area has a large recluse spider population. It's not an aggressive spider. Tetanus shots are recommended. The complications of a large bite can be severe.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Would you write about the difference in symptoms from an asthma attack and a little stroke? It's called a T something. I can't remember the exact acronym. -- M.G.

Asthma is the sudden narrowing of bronchi (airways) through which air reaches the lungs. Mucous glands that line those airways pour out thick, sticky mucus, which adds to the difficulty of air reaching the lungs. Furthermore, the airways become swollen, and that also blocks air flow. An asthma attack, therefore, makes a person gasp for air, cough and wheeze.

A TIA is a temporary interruption of blood flow to a part of the brain. Sometimes it's due to a little blood clot in a brain artery. Symptoms can include any of the following: numbness or weakness of an arm, leg or the face when the numbness is on one side of the body; confusion; slurred speech; inability to find the correct word; vision troubles; dizziness; and loss of balance. Symptoms last for minutes to hours, but never more than one day. When circulation is restored, they go away. A TIA is a warning of an impending stroke.

The asthma booklet provides the details on this illness and its treatments. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 602, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: It's said you need to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. The other day in the paper it said there is no evidence that people need that much water. I would appreciate your view. -- J.R.

ANSWER: The advice to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day had been raised almost to the level of a commandment. People don't need to drink that much water. They need to drink fluid when they are thirsty. In hot weather or when engaged in physical activity that produces lots of sweat, more water is needed. Older people's thirst perception is often a little dulled, so they need to be careful about increased fluid during summer months.